Reborn in the 1980s: Nine Stunning Beauties Get Pregnant Before Marriage

After a while, Hu Chuyao's chanting gradually slowed down.

As the last drumbeat faded, the whip in her hand also came to a standstill.

The four male shamans simultaneously pressed down their torches, and Hu Chuyao closed her eyes.

Everyone present held their breath, quietly waiting for the outcome of her communication with the spirits.

Last time, Hu Chuyao went to Shimen Village to help with Zhao Laosi's matter.

Chen Yongqiang was nearby at the time, and the aura of the mountain god on his body unintentionally dispelled the spirits that Hu Chuyao had invited.

This time, the sacrificial ceremony was held on Hu Chuyao's home turf. In addition, Chen Yongqiang's strength had increased, and his aura had become much more restrained, no longer showing off his arrogance.

After communicating with the spirits, Hu Chuyao walked to the offering table. She picked up an object with both hands and raised it above her head.

With the movement, several animal bones were poured out, which is an important part of the shamanic ritual: bone divination.

Upon seeing the divination result, Hu Chuyao's expression changed drastically, but she quickly regained her composure: "The spiritual bone has been verified, and the gods have given their guidance. Next year's spring waters will be plentiful, ensuring that planting and sowing will not be delayed."

For farmers who depend on the weather for their livelihood, there is no better news than favorable weather.

Hu Chuyao turned to the representative sent by the Jin family, a middle-aged man: "The offering of the sacrifice was sincere, and the smoke rose to the heavens. The gods have accepted our prayers. However, human lifespan is predetermined and cannot be forcibly changed by rituals. We only wish that the elderly may find peace of mind, the young may carry on their wishes, and the family may be at peace; this is where blessings will be bestowed."

The Jin family representative bowed deeply and repeatedly expressed his gratitude.

These words offered comfort without making any empty promises, which was in accordance with the proper boundaries for a shaman communicating with the heavens and earth.

Finally, Hu Chuyao looked at the neatly arranged sacrificial meat: "The sacrificial ceremony is complete, and blessings have been bestowed upon this sacrificial animal. Each household, please collect your sacrificial meat in turn..."

Qin Shan also received about a pound of "lucky meat." He went up to the Jin family representative and said, "Thank you, Old Master Jin! I wish you good health and a long and happy life!"

What the Kim family representative wanted was this: "Thank you for your kind words, may everyone be well."

Qin Shan, carrying the "lucky meat," walked up to Chen Yongqiang and said, "Yongqiang, why don't you go and get some?"

"I don't need to. Let the villagers have a larger share." Chen Yongqiang knew in his heart that this sacrifice was performed by borrowing the villagers' good fortune, and the Jin family might not be able to bear the blessings that he himself had received.

The two walked and talked, side by side, toward the path leading back to the village.

At the other end of the crowd, Hu Chuyao's gaze passed over the throng of heads and landed on Chen Yongqiang's receding figure.

The patterns shown by the bone divination are still vivid in my mind; in the Qinglong Mountain area, disaster is likely to strike in the future.

The only thing she still can't see through is Chen Yongqiang's fate.

When Chen Yongqiang returned home, Lin Xiulian and Qin Liping were peeling garlic while watching TV.

"You're back! Are you hungry? There's still some Laba porridge in the pot," Lin Xiulian asked with concern.

"Brother Yongqiang, Sister Xiulian's Laba porridge is so delicious! I just ate three bowls," Qin Liping said, a satisfied smile on her face.

"I've already eaten at the reservoir." Chen Yongqiang walked over and saw that the two women had already peeled a lot of purple garlic.

"Do we have any sugar at home? We'll need a lot to pickle the garlic for Laba Festival later." Lin Xiulian shook the garlic in the basin.

"Yes, I'll go get it." Chen Yongqiang turned and went into the inner room.

He had recently used up all the white sugar at home making braised pork, so he simply took the opportunity to retrieve the white sugar he usually kept in his storage space, and also grabbed a bottle of white vinegar.

The three of them divided the work and soon made a small jar of Laba garlic.

Chen Yongqiang poured some liquor into the jar and then sealed the jar.

"Brother Yongqiang, how long do we have to wait before we can eat this Laba garlic?" Qin Liping asked from the side.

"It's cold now, so it will take at least a week for it to turn green," Chen Yongqiang explained patiently.

...

Don't be greedy, children, Laba is the new year.

On the 23rd, the sugar melon sticks.

It's already the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, and the festive atmosphere of the New Year is getting stronger.

This day is the traditional Little New Year in northern China, also known as the Kitchen God Festival.

Lin Hsiu-lien got up early to clean the house. Dusting is also called "sweeping the house". It is necessary to clean the house inside and out, which means to sweep away the bad luck of the year.

Chen Yongqiang was also busy, putting up new paper-cut window decorations.

"I'll get you a new house next year." He said this to Lin Xiulian, and also to tell himself that he needed to earn more money next year.

Chen Yongqiang had already made a plan in mind: to build a traditional courtyard house.

"That must cost a lot of money." Lin Xiulian was sweeping dust with a broom.

"Leave the money-making to me!" With the system at his fingertips, making money wasn't a difficult task for Chen Yongqiang.

He wanted his wife and children to live in a big house, and of course, his mistresses would also benefit from it.

After cleaning the house, you need to prepare offerings for the Kitchen God Festival.

Lin Xiulian took out the candied melon she had prepared beforehand and placed it on a small plate.

According to old custom, we also need to prepare some hay and water for the Kitchen God's horse.

She grabbed a handful of soybeans, poured in a small bowl of water, and placed them together on the stove.

"The Kitchen God will be going to Heaven tonight to say good things about us, so we must make sure he speaks sweetly of us to the Jade Emperor," Lin Xiulian chanted as she set out the offerings.

After the Kitchen God Festival, Lin Xiulian began preparing dinner, following the custom of not eating the food prepared for the Kitchen God Festival.

On this day, the main stove is not used; the staple food is sticky rice cakes that were steamed during the day, and the side dish is a stew of sauerkraut and pork belly that has been simmering on the stove for a long time.

Occasionally, the sound of firecrackers could be heard outside the window; it was impatient children setting off small firecrackers ahead of time.

Warm lights were shining from the windows of every household in the village, and the New Year was getting closer and closer.

That evening, Lin Xiulian snuggled closer to Chen Yongqiang. "I want to make more dumplings tomorrow, not just cabbage and pork, but also some chopped sauerkraut filling... and some chive and egg dumplings too."

"Okay, whatever you say. Make some more dough, freeze some of it, so you can cook it whenever you want to eat it." Chen Yongqiang half-embraced her.

Life began with these meals and conversations, and even then, there was hope for the future.

As drowsiness washed over her, Lin Xiulian drifted off to sleep in the comforting atmosphere.

Chen Yongqiang, however, had more on his mind.

However, everything will have to wait until after the New Year, as this is his first Spring Festival since his rebirth.

Many things haven't been fully caught up yet, but thanks to my own efforts, I'm at least financially secure now.

The next day, Chen Yongqiang's house was bustling with activity as Qin Shan's family came over to help make dumplings.

A close neighbor is worse than a distant relative. Chen Yongqiang didn't have many relatives in Shimen Village, and the Qin family moved from another place and also didn't have many relatives, so they became closer.

The kitchen had become an assembly line: Chen Yongqiang was in charge of chopping the filling, Qin Shan was in charge of kneading the dough, and Liu Jifen was rolling out the dumpling wrappers.

Lin Xiulian, along with the twin sisters Qin Lijuan and Qin Liping, sat around the table, where they shaped dumplings with different fillings in their hands.

"Brother Yongqiang, do these dumplings look like gold ingots?" Qin Liping asked Chen Yongqiang for praise.